DHAKA, July 20, 2023 (BSS) - At least seven persons were reportedly killed in a head-on clash between a microbus and an auto-rickshaw on Sylhet-Companyganj-Bholaganj highway in Sundragaon area of Goainghat upazila in Sylhet this morning.

"At least seven persons, five on the spot, were killed in the head-on clash between a microbus and a CNG-run auto rickshaw on Sylhet-Bholaganj road of Goainghat upazila around 8am," said KM Nazrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Goainghat police station.

Among the deceased, the identity of four people has so far been confirmed. They are - Mohammad Kalon Mia, the auto-rickshaw driver, son of Shahjahan Mia of Islampur village under Companiganj upazila, Kazi Amir Uddin, son of late Asaddar Ali of village Kalibari of Companiganj upazila, Mohammad Idris Ali of Batumara village and Rita Begum, wife of Suruzzaman hailed from Tukergaon village under Companiganj upazila.

Critically injured four others were sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College.

Locals said the micro-bus with fourteen tourists coming from Manikganj was travelling to Sadapathar (white stone) tourist spot at Bholaganj.

But all of a sudden, the right sided wheel of the microbus exploded, leading to head-on clash with the Sylhet bound CNG-run auto-rickshaw coming from opposite direction, they said.
 
Then, both the vehicles plunged into a road side ditch, resulting in five auto-rickshaw's passengers' death on the spot.

The microbus driver died on the way to the hospital as one critically injured people succumbed while undergoing treatment in the hospital.